Bernard Jackman's career in rugby took him from the All-Ireland League to the very top of the game.
Having just launched his book 'Blue Blood', he answers Brendan Cole's questions about the people, places and the game he played for 13 years.
Brendan Cole: ‘Blue Blood’ is the title of the book - where do you stand on the Leinster v Munster rivalry?
Bernard Jackman: What do I think about the Rivalry between Munster and Leinster? I think that as a rivalry it has really split the Rugby public in this country in two. Most people are either red or blue supporters and not many support both! As a player I loved that rivalry and competition although I don’t think that we were a real threat to Munster until recent years when we have managed to get the upper hand in the games that matter most.
We certainly envied Munster and how they were loved by everyone and that gave us motivation to catch up and try and become a more successful team than them.
Brendan Cole:Your Ireland career - do you have regrets or do you see it as an area where you achieved what you wanted to achieve?
Bernard Jackman: I think most players have regrets when they finish up and I am no different. I definitely feel that there was an opportunity to get Connacht into the Heineken Cup in my time there and that could have given rugby in the west a massive boost. It would have been great to finish up with a back to back Heineken Cup medal but we weren’t able to compete with Toulouse's power in the semi final last season
Brendan Cole:Did you play in Irish rugby's 'Golden Age' - or is there more to come? Will Ireland ever beat New Zealand?
Bernard Jackman: I certainly believe that I did play in a Golden Age for Irish Rugby and that it is unlikely there will ever be a group of players that will dominate Irish rugby and the Irish team for as long a period again as O'Gara, O Connell, Hayes, Wallace, Stringer, O’Driscoll and Horgan have.
Having said that the game has never been as popular here and the number of kids that are now playing mini and youth rugby will come through over the coming years to play for Ireland and create their own history.
I think Ireland will eventually beat New Zealand but New Zealand will have to underperform on the day. It is their national sport and their skill level is unfortunately far higher than ours at the moment.
Brendan Cole:Castle Avenue, Donnybrook, the RDS, Lansdowne Road - your favourite venues?
Bernard Jackman: Castle Avenue is definitely my favourite home venue. It’s where I really developed as a player and some of my best days in rugby boots were on that pitch.
When the Clontarf pack used to get on top the noise coming from the shed side of the pitch would give you an extra boost. My favourite away venue was Thomond Park due to the atmosphere and the place although I only won down there once!
Brendan Cole: Throwing the ball in to the lineout is an exposed position - what’s it like at the top level, and how should a kid learning to do it go about it?
Bernard Jackman: I unfortunately wasn’t a naturally good thrower and I used to be anxious about it pre-match, during the match and post match. I remember some games I might even be hoping that a ball mightn’t make touch so that I wouldn’t have to throw in!
Later in my career I settled on a routine that I used for every throw whether it was at training or in a match and that helped a lot.
A lineout throw is similar in ways to a place kick in that you as the hooker are in a certain amount of control and you need to try and get consistency in your set up.
I would say to any kid learning to throw that the sooner they find a routine that works for them they should make that a really strict habit and also the mental side of throwing is massive, your last throw has no relevance to your next throw unless you let it effect you mentally>
Brendan Cole: Who is the best player you ever played against - and the best hooker?
Bernard Jackman: The best player that I ever played against David Wallace. I don’t think Ireland has ever produced anyone with his combination of power, speed and workrate. Despite suffering plenty of injuries he has been a key man in Munster and Ireland for over a decade.
The best hooker I ever played against is unquestionably Keith Wood. He had the ability to drag whatever team he was playing for over the line through his natural ability but also his will to win and charisma. He could lift not just his team but the whole stadium with his play.
William Servat the Toulouse hooker is the best hooker currently playing in the world.
Brendan Cole: You've also been serenaded to the tune of Batman and been a bit of a cult hero at Leinster over the years. What's that like?
Bernard Jackman: I was flattered when the Leinsterfans printed the ‘Batman’ T-shirts and used to chant the Batman theme music at games. But with Ava (4) and Ben (2) it’s more Pippa Pig and Fireman Sam in my house at the moment!
Brendan Cole: Who is the best coach you have worked with?
Bernard Jackman: I have worked under many fine coaches during my career and they all influenced me in different ways but I would have to say that the biggest influence on my career was Brent Pope, who coached me at Clontarf when I was 20 and 21 years old.
If he hadn’t gone down the media/punditry route, Popey without doubt could have been a successful professional forwards or head coach. He has an innate ability to read a game and in terms of motivating a team I have never came across better.
He taught me how to carry the ball effectively and most importantly he instilled in me how important it is to respect the game by giving 100% each time you train or play which is an attitude that served me well over my career
Brendan Cole: A position or a sport to play if you hadn't been a rugby hooker?
Bernard Jackman: I would have loved to have been a pro soccer player and modelled myself on Kevin Moran as a kid so I would have been centre back for Manchester United if I had the skill, speed and coordination!
Brendan Cole: Have to ask - what was Brent's ball carrying tip?
Bernard Jackman: Brent’s tip on ball carrying was all about timing onto the ball. You see so many players take the ball from a static start and then expect to break tackles. The best way to generate speed and therefore power is to start deeper and work on building a relationship with your half backs so that they know exactly where you like to receive the pass: out in front or onto your chest or wherever.
Once you hit the ball at full pace keep that pace up going into contact and always run at space rather than at the defender. All sounds very obvious but it’s an area of coaching that isn’t focussed on much.
Brendan Cole: You now are now working with the Wexford footballers, coaching rugby with Clontarf, St Michaels and DCU. Are there any differences between the players in both codes?
Bernard Jackman: I have been extremely lucky to work with the Wexford footballer as a High Performance Coach and also I have done a lot of Motivational talks with local Gaelic, Hurling and Soccer teams over the past few years.
I don’t really see any difference between any of the codes apart from the obvious physical requirements. What I try and do is help each team become more focused and disciplined. I find that they can only do that when they understand what they are committing too and what the plan is to help them achieve their goal.
I believe that there are a lot of great leaders in dressing rooms all over Ireland but that they just need the framework or the environment to thrive. I enjoy helping teams create that environment.
‘Blue Blood’, an honest account of Bernard Jackman’s final season with Leinster and his career in the AIL, English Premiership, Heineken Cup and international rugby is available in bookshops now.
Signed copies can be purchased at www.bernardjackman.ie.
